Vol. 4, Issue 10, Part E (2018)

Abstract
Greenhouse gas emission is directly related to fossil fuel use, industrialization, deforestation, air pollution and other environmental unfriendly activities across the globe. The mountainous regions like Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are the least industrialized; unfortunately, they are bearing the brunt of the climate change as the phenomena have global dimensions. It would lead to loss of hydropower generation, ecosystem services, and impacts on other key economic sectors in the region. Other impacts are an increase in the frequency of climate extremes, changes in stream flows, in the faunal and floral biodiversity, plant invasions and changes in agriculture and horticulture productivity. Effects of climate change are already being felt on the ground. Erratic snowfall and rainfall pattern, and unusually warm winters are some of the characteristics of the climate change in Jammu and Kashmir. The average temperature of Jammu and Kashmir has increased by 1.2 degree Celsius over the last century, higher than the global average of 0.8 to 0.9 degree Celsius. The increase in temperatures in Jammu and Kashmir has to do with the topography and high altitude. We have seen that warming is higher in the Himalayas and other mountainous regions of the globe. Temperature varies from place to place and it is basically a function of location, longitude, latitude and altitude.